George meeritt



@ni-12h .taire @anni @fitta PENCIL POINT PROTECTOR.

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Be it known that I, Geenen MERRITT, of the city and county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a certain new, improved Pencil Point Protector; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My invention is' adapted to fit upon the end of a common lead pencil, and to protect the point from injury. I combine with the hard casing, which forms the body'of the protector proper, a rubber covering, adapted to serve for erasing lines; and the whole' may be produced cheaply, and is adapted to serve in a very convenient -and efficient manner. When the pencil is in use the protector may be fitted, as is usual with other protectors,

upon the opposite end of the lead pencil.

I will rst describe what I consider the best'means of carrying out my invention, and will afterwards desig; nate the points which I'believe to be new. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification;

Figure 1 shows the form in which the sheet brass or other metal is first cut from a broad sheet of,metal.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the protector after it has been bent into the complete form` and encircled by the spring. I

Figure 3 represents the same after the rubber eraser has been added. This view is taken at right angles to that in fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on the line S S in lig. 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-section on the line T T in fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all gures.

A is a central, swelled end, which applies opposite to the point of the lead pencil M. AI and AQ are extensions therefrom, which are struck, by dies or otherwise, into the form of arms or wings, extending parallel to each other, as represented.Y Thepart A A1 A2 is formed from one piece of hard brass. The form in which the piece is first cut is indicated injfig. I. The form which it finally assumes after having been shaped by the dies is indicated in fig. 2. B is a nearly complete ring of hard brass wire or other elastic metal. It is applied upon the protector in the manner represented, and is received between two swells or beads struck up, asv represented on the parts A1 A2. This partial band B tends to hold the extremities of the wings A1 A2 close together, but will yield by its elasticity, and allow them to open to receive a large pencil, orto close and fit with tolerable tightness upon a pencil which is a little smaller than the average. The wood of lead pencils is usually so uniform in diameter that it is practicable to make one of my pencil point protectors fit on all ordi nary pencils. C1 O2 are deep indentations produced by dies. At these points the metal of the wings A1 A2 is forced in and considerably beyond the general interior surface of the protector. These indentations form stops or shoulders, against which the conical or deeper portion of the pencil, supposed to be pointed in the ordinary manner, is rested when it is forced into the protector. D is a rubber piece, made in an annular form, but somewhat smaller than the interior of the metal portion A Al-AQ. In being forced on, it is extended, und retains its place by embracing tightly the exterior of the metal portion. Its hold upon the metal portion may be increased, if desired, by forming a number of indentations and projections on the exterior of the portions Al A2, but I do not consider it usually necessary. Its exterior periphery may be deeper, as represented, and formed in a square or other desired figure near the ond. The. elasticity of this rubber tends to hold the Wings A1 A2 together. It may serve with some success as a substitute for the partial ring B, but prefer to use both. The extreme ends of the wings-AI A2 are scalloped and flared outward, as indicated at al a2- The scalloped form allows tlie edge of the metal to be flared with facility, and the flaring form allows it to receive the tapering portion of a large pencil without arresting its motion or abrading the surface. But the motion of the pencil inward-intothe protector is always arrested on striking the stops O1 C2; and these stops are at a suiicient distance from the end A to preserve the point of the pencil, when pointed in the ordinary manner, from contact with any of the surfaces. Y

There are many modifications of form which ,may be applied to my protector. Thus, for example, the indentations CI C2 may be made more sharp and eiicient by partially cutting the metal at or near these points, and bending inward the cut portion ;.V or again, a complete groove may be struck quite around the entire protector; or only one of the stops, C1 for example, `may be used instead of two; or again, the entire outer end of the metallic portion of the protector-by which I mean what was originally the central portion A-and theadjusting ends of the wings A1 A2 may be made of less diameter when the article is finished than the por tion around which the spring B is applied. I propose to inake the swelled end A serve as a seal when desired, and to stamp or otherwise produce on it a Star or other convenient device, in order to use the seal upon thin Wax. The rubber portion D maybe slipped down from the end, or may be removed altogether.v It is not essen* tial that the spring B be made of a partial ring of wire. It may be made of a complete ring of India rubber, or of many other substances, ifdesired.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new in pencil point protectors, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. I claim the metal piece A A1 A2, and the spring B, adapted to operate together upon the end of'an ordinary wood pencil, substantially as and for the purpose herein specied. 4

2. I claim the combination of a rubber eraser, D, with the-metallic portion A A1 A2 so as to give the proper crasive property to the exterior, and also to contribute, by its contractile force, to th'e clasping of the metallic portion upon the wood of the contained pencil substantially as herein speciied. i

3.` I claim the scalloped and flaring month a l on the Wings A1 A2 of the metallic pencil point protector, substantially as herein specified.

GEORGE MERRIT'I..

Witnesses:

A W. C. DEY,

FRANK A. Hamann. 

